Biophysics of Insect Flight (N. Chari, Prasad Mukkavilli etc.)

Chapter 13

Navigation—A General Overview

Laxminarayana Parayitam, Saraswathi Sirikonda,

Suryanarayana Palleboina, and N. Chari

Abstract Navigation is the method of determining location, route, and distance

travelled by humans, birds, aquatic animals, insects and transport vehicles belong to

surface or water or air. Animals and birds are using various types of natural methods

for orientation and navigation from one place to another place. Navigation in animals

is mainly controlled and inﬂuenced by the internal and external factors. Migrating

Birds, which travel long distances and return back to their original place, are using

different natural compass systems and maps for orientation and identifying the places

during the migration. The natural compass systems like Sun, Stars, Moon and Geo-

magnetic are explained in this chapter. The mechanisms of maps used by the birds or

animals are olfactory, mosaic, cognitive, geo-magnetic and gradient etc. Map systems

play the crucial role in the life of animals for their daily requirements. Animals and

birds will face challenges for migration or navigation during inclement weather. Infra

sound vibrations are also used by the birds as well as sea animals for long distance

travelling. Sense organs play a vital role in animal migration and navigation. The

behavioral experiments or neuroanatomical studies are required to study the migra-

tion and orientation in labs. Navigational aids used by human beings in early stage of

navigation are compass, nautical charts, sextant and chronometers etc. Modern day’s

navigation systems are Global Navigational Satellite System (GNSS), Inertial Navi-

gationSystem(INS),RadioDetectionandRanging(RADAR),SoundNavigationand

Ranging (SONAR), Long-Range Navigation (Loran), Light Detection and Ranging

(LIDAR) and Instrument/Microwave Landing Systems (ILS/MLS). These naviga-

tional aids are used in missiles, rocket launching pads, ships, submarines, airplanes,

trains, land vehicles, autonomous vehicles, robots etc. Few navigation systems like

L. Parayitam (B) · S. Sirikonda

Research and Training Unit for Navigational Electronics, Osmania University, Hyderabad, India

S. Sirikonda

S. Palleboina

SNIST, Hyderabad, India

N. Chari

Kakatiya University, Warangal, India

N. Chari et al. (eds.), Biophysics of Insect Flight, Springer Series in Biophysics 22,

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-5184-7_13

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